Operating 1000 miles per watt

The General exam exposed me to more arcane amateur radio rules and facts. The math of electronics was no problem since it was an interest of mine. Understanding the application of electronics, however, was not something that comes from cramming for the exam. This problem would come back to haunt me when I bought a sophisticated radio months later. Getting by the exam, although it was a bit of work, was not really hard. This time when I showed up at the exam center there were 4 examiners and me. I was the only person taking an exam. Made for quick grading this time, although still a bit anxiety producing waiting to see if I qualified as they passed my answer sheet around. When you pass you are given the chance to change your call sign. I saw no reason for this as I was getting pretty used to hammering out my call with the paddles and it had a certain lilt to it. So, now I was KC1DVT with General operating privileges and could work PSK-31 on 20 meters - the band that Phil said was likely to get me the best chance of a long-range (or Dx) contact.

QRP & PSK-31

I bought the 20 meter crystal oscillator QRP PSK radio from the Ukraine which emits 1.5 watts on 14.070 Mhz and started to make contacts. As with CW, the back and forth of PSK-31 allows operators to share information. It is possible to "rag-chew" or chat about anything but in this super public forum this seems a bit odd to a newcomer. With the internet, mobile phones and easy video communication there are many other methods of doing this. However, there is a kind of information that operators share that only another PSK-31 amateur radio operator would care about: the type of radio, antenna and the power one is using to transmit as well as the computer software one is using to decode. This mundane information became a source of pride for me since I was using a Ukrainian crystal radio at very low power with a simple wire antenna. Phil had encouraged this approach and I knew it was the approach for me after I began to have success and when I had this exchange with Bill WN8QGV in Michigan (1100km away):

CQ CQ CQ DE WN8QGV WN8QGV pse k

WN8QGV DE KC1DVT KC1DVT QRP KN

Good afternoon from Michigan btu Walter KC1DVT de WN8QGV k

... after a few exchanges I sent my setup via a macro...

Station is as follows:

40m = 7.070 Mhz crystal BPSK QRP Transceiver or

20m = 14.070 Mhz crystal BPSK QRP Transceiver at 1.5 Watts

both transceivers are from the Ukraine

Antennas: sloping EFHW 40m and 20m up 18m in tree to house

... a few exchanges later Bill signed off...

ok Walt I remember ur Ukraine QRP from a qso that we almost had when I first got on digital nice to be able to get thru this time...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours that set up is doing a very nice job and I will have to relay

the story of this qso on to my ham friends

btu Walter KC1DVT de WN8QGV k

This made my day!

As I made contacts I became aware of a PSK club (PODXS 070 Club) when I heard a special call for a PSK contest. Membership required 50 unique PSK-31 contacts. That became a goal and I had 50, largely US contacts, in 3 months.

But there was one contact...

DK9KW DK9KW DE KC1DVT KC1DVT QRP KN

---->KCHallo, Tnx for Call/Answer

Ur RST: .499

Nale is BerJO32LA.

Hw copy Walter U9

o

DK9KW DE KC1DVT QSL

UR RST 599 599 in Falmouth, Maine MAINE

1.5w here QSL?

DK9KW de KC1DVT KN

----->KC1DVT Walter de DK9KW

Thanks for the report and QSSL via Bureau or qrz.co e‰

te pn: www.qr==c mX and 73 !

KC1DVT de DK9KW pse k k k

n ee

s

cOPY ABOUT 75% BERND. QSB BUT GREAT QSO SK

BTU DK9KW DE KC1DVT KN

CQ CQ Cei de DKioKW DK9KW DK9

As you can see the copy was not perfect but definitely understandable. DK9KW is in Ahaus, Germany - 5558 Km or 3453 miles from Maine. So, I had just jumped the Atlantic on 1.5 watts which is 2302 miles/watt! Unbelievable! I was hooked.